GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The Glen Ridge High School Marching Band performed in the 35th annual Bloomfield High School Bengal Marching Band Festival on Sunday, Oct. 30, playing selections, “Buckaroo Holiday,” “Saturday Night Waltz,” and “Hoedown,” from Aaron Copeland’s “Rodeo.”

The band did quite well. In competition against New Milford, Belleville and Elmwood Park, GRHS was rated “superior” by the judges while the other bands in their group each received a “good” rating. Glen Ridge was also designated the band, among the four, with the best music, best color guard display, and the best percussion section. Overall, when judged against the nine other bands that participated in the festival, the GRHS percussion section was judged to be the best overall. The section is made up of Oliver Turiano, 11th grade, snare drum; Aidan O’Connor, 12th grade, tenor drums;Joseph DeLuca, ninth grade, Matthew Gomez, ninth grade, and Hayden Sweet, ninth grade, bass drums; a Guy Anello, 10th grade, and Noriaki To, 12th grade, mallet percussions. The percussion instructor is Tim Alworth.

There are 38 performers in the GRHS band. According to the band director, Darren Gage, all but six students will be returning.

In several “Airgrams” — words of encouragement and affection that were announced just prior to a performance by a marching band — Deven Woolford, the Glen Ridge brass captain, was sent love from mom and dad. He also received kudos from granny and grandma. In another Airgram, the No. 1 fan of the band, Liam, said they were the best. The color guards was praised, by Margaret, for the continuous love and devotion they had for their performance.

“Always work hard and don’t forget to smile,” Margaret told them. And anonymously, Glen Ridge band parents were told to shake more of them cow bells.

These photographs were taken after the band had performed and were waiting for the announcement of the awards. Unfortunately, rain scattered everyone from the stands and caused the awards ceremony to be cancelled. But that did not happen before host band, Bloomfield High, finished its exhibition drill which was the final presentation of the afternoon.